Spacecraft captures dozens of images of comet's nucleus

LOS ANGELES -- A NASA spacecraft captured dozens of images of a comet during a weekend flyby, providing scientists only the second glimpse ever of the core of one of the glowing bodies of dust and ice.

Scientists said the Deep Space 1 probe flew within 1,360 miles of the comet Borrelly, capturing as many as 50 images of its nucleus at varying resolutions. Scientists expect to receive the last images and other data from the spacecraft today.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials say they will not release any images or data from the flyby until Tuesday.

Scientists are interested in comets because they are thought to contain pristine examples of the building blocks of our solar system from its birth 4.5 billion years ago.